Tire capping machine



Jan. 4, 1944. J. SEATON 2,338,462

TIRE CAPP ING MACHINE Filed Oct. 3, 1941 s Sheets-Sheet 1 WTFFTTW v Inventor L- a L/esse Sea/2 2w L; I I a 2 A Home Jan. 4, 1944. J. L. sEA-roN 2,338,462

TIRE CAPPING MACHINE Filed OO t. 3, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 III Inventor A? jesseltea jw A ttorne Jan. 4, 1944. J. 1.. SEATON TIRE CAPPING MACHINE Filed Oct. 3. 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 r Inventor jesse .Z. 9

IKE Ll]? Attorney Patented Jan. 4, 1944 UNITED STATES FTENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in tire capping machines and has for one of its important objects to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a machine of this character which embodies a construction and arrangement whereby the central portion of the tread, which receives the most wear, will be made comparatively thick.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide a tire capping machine of the aforementioned character wherein overheating of the casing will be prevented.

Still another very important object of the invention is to provide a tire capping machine of the character described which is adapted for tires of various sizes within a wide range.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a tire capping machine of the character set forth which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly efficient and reliable in use, compact and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure l is an elevational view, showing a plurality of tire capping machines constructed in accordance with the present invention in use on a rack.

Figure 2 is a view in vertical section through the machine.

Figure 3 is a view principally in vertical cross section through the machine.

Figure 4 is a plan view of one of the pressure heads and the elements on which it is pivotally mounted.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view, looking at the inside of a portion of the curing ring.

Figure 6 is a view in side elevation of one of the pressure heads, a portion thereof being broken away in section.

Figure 7 is a detail view in vertical sec ion through an intermediate portion of one of the extensible toggles. a

Figure 8 is a View in side elevation of one of the auxiliary pressure heads which are used on comparatively large sizes of casings.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a shaft I of suitable metal, said shaft including oppositely threaded portions 2. Threadedly mounted on the portions 2 of the shaft 1 for movement toward and away from each other are nuts or the like 3. A removable operating crank 4 is provided on one end portion of the shaft I.

Pivotally mounted on the nuts 3 are extensible toggles t. The toggles 5 comprise telescopic male and female sections 6 and l, respectively, which are secured in adjusted position through the medium of pins or bolts 8. The pins or bolts 8 are mounted in the female sections 1 and are selectively engageable in openings 9 which are provided therefor in the male toggle sections 6.

The outer end portions of the toggles 5 are pivotally connected to cross bars It]. I-Iingedly mounted on the cross bars til are longitudinally curved, circumferentially extending pressure heads it having outer faces which are concave in transverse section. The pressure heads II have formed therein openings 12 the purpose of which will be presently set forth.

The pressure heads H are cooperable with a suitable curing ring 53. In the embodiment shown, the curing ring it comprises electric heating means or elements it. If desired, steam may be utilized as the heating medium. In Figure 3 of the drawings, the tread being applied to a casing iii is indicated at It.

It is thought that the operation of the machine will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, the casing [5 to be capped is positioned in the curing ring E3. The pressure unit comprising the members 3, 5, H], H, etc., is then positioned and the shaft l is turned in a direction to move the nuts 3 toward each other. Thus, the heads H are expanded in the casing iii through the medium of the toggles 5. The construction and arrangement is such that the tread portion only of the casing, to which the cap is to be applied, is brought under pressure between the heads I l and the curing ring l3, leaving the side walls and beads of said casing free. This opens or spreads the side walls of the casing and transversely concaves the tread portion thereof with the result that the central portion of the cap will be made comparatively. deep or thick, as suggested in Figure 3 of the drawings. If desired, a plurality of the devices may be conveniently mounted on a suitable supporting rack I! (see Figure 1) after the casings have been placed therein and the desired pressure applied. Of course, this pressure may be regulated after the machines have been mounted on the rack ll. When the operation has been completed the shaft l is rotated in he opposite direction to withdraw the pressure heads H from the casing.

In Figure 8 of the drawings an auxiliary pressure head 18 for large size casings is shown. The heads i 8 are adapted to be mounted on the heads H and said heads I 8 are provided with retaining pins H: which are engageable in the openings l2.

It is believed that the many advantages of a tire capping machine constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood and although a preferred embodiment of the apparatus is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

A tire capping machine comprising a curing ring for the reception of a casing, a plurality of pressure heads engageable in the casing and c0- operable with the curing ring for compressing said casing therebetween, and means for actuating the pressure heads for compressing the casing in cooperation with the curing ring, said pressure heads being constructed to engage with the tread portion only of the casing and having outer faces concave in transverse cross section for transversely concaving said tread portion of the casing.

JESSE L. SEATON. 

